traditonal origami swans

How to Fold an Easy Traditional Origami Swan

peterByPeter Saydak
2 Comments

Do you love the grace of swans and how they move so gracefully? If so, folding an origami swan is a perfect way to capture this image in paper form.

Swans are cherished in Japan for their lifelong pair bonding and elegant movements, qualities that make the origami swan a popular project both in Japan and around the world.

This model is fantastic for beginners and fun for all ages, requiring only simple mountain and valley folds to achieve a beautifully angular and abstract representation of a swan.

Whether you’re using plain white paper to echo the swan’s purity or opting for a beautiful patterned paper, this traditional origami swan is a lovely way to spend less than five minutes adding a touch of tranquility to your day.

Traditional Origami Swan Step-by-Step Instructions

  • Difficulty: Super Easy
  • Folding time: Less than 5 minutes
  • Model designer: Traditional
  • Paper: Kami 15×15 cm
Download Instructions 📩
Ask Questions 💬

Step 1

origami swan paper fold step 1
Traditional Origami Swan Diagram Step 1

Start with the white side facing up. Fold in half diagonally and unfold.

Here, I’m using chiyogami (patterned paper), so I want the pattern to face down.

Step 2

origami swan paper fold step 2
origami swan diagram step 2

Fold the sides to the center line and turn the paper over.

Step 3

origami swan paper fold step 3
Origami Swan Diagram Step 3

Fold the sides to the center line again.

Step 4

origami swan paper fold step 4

Fold the bottom corner to the top corner.

Step 5

origami swan paper fold step 5

 Fold the tip down.

Step 6

origami swan paper fold step 6

Mountain fold the model in half.

Step 7

origami swan paper fold step 7
Traditional Origami Swan Diagram Step 7

Pull the neck upwards.

Step 8

origami swan paper fold step 8
Traditional Origami Swan Diagram Step 8

Pull the head up.

The completed origami Swan

origami swan paper fold completed
Completed Model

🦢 Folding tip: While this isn’t part of the traditional model, you can pleat the tip of the head to create a beak like the image above.

Well done! You’ve just folded your very own paper swan.

If you’d like to shape it further, check out our reel:

This traditional origami swan will bring a sense of peace wherever it’s placed. It’s perfect for decorating your space or gifting it to someone special.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial as much as I loved guiding you through it. Feel free to share your models with us in the comments or on social media. Happy folding!

Download the Full Origami Swan Printable PDF Instructions

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peter

I've been into origami for quite some time now, and I've been teaching it here on Origami.me for over 14 years. My other hobbies include martial arts, travel, video games and Go. I'm also the author of Everyone Can Learn Origami. You should definitely check it out!

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MissR

There is a missing step between step 6 and 7 for folding the swan’s head.

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Florent Fabre

Hi there! The steps seem good to me. You just fold the model in half and then pull the neck upwards. I’ve also added a link to our reel to help you shape it further. You can find it after the steps.

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